The Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD) has questioned whether there is a difference of opinion between the Chief Minister and the Home Minister regarding the conduct of the Census in Manipur.
Amid the ongoing debate over the timing of the Census in the state, JFD has launched a campaign urging Ministers and MLAs to clearly state their positions on the issue. As part of the campaign, an attempt was made today to meet the Home Minister, Konthoujam Govindas, who is also the MLA of Bishnupur Assembly Constituency.
However, the meeting could not take place. Following this, members of the campaign and local activists criticised the Home Minister for not making time to meet them. JFD has been demanding that Ministers and MLAs clarify their stance on the Census inside the Assembly.
Earlier, Meira Paibi groups from Bishnupur district had agreed to facilitate the meeting. Accordingly, representatives including JFD Convenor Jitendra Ningomba, Finance Secretary Sunil Karam and members of the committee, along with Meira Paibi representatives, went to the residence of the Home Minister at Ningthoukhong around 10 am.
The group later held a discussion with R.K. Pholmani in place of the Minister. After waiting for nearly an hour, they were informed that the Home Minister was in Imphal and would not be able to meet them.
Members of the delegation expressed disappointment over the failure to meet the Minister despite prior arrangements. The issue still remains unresolved. The campaign group said it had earlier attempted to meet the Minister following his statement in the Assembly on the Census issue. It further claimed that there appears to be no clear and consistent response from the Chief Minister and the Home Minister on the matter in the Assembly, which has created confusion among MLAs and Ministers regarding the Census.